Manuel Turizo knew what he wanted to be since he was a boy. From a young age, he told his mother that he wanted to be a singer, and always had her and his family’s support, provided he studied and got good grades. His goal was clear: Manuel wanted to be an international superstar, a dream he fought for day and night until he achieved success with his first song, ‘Una Lady Como Tu,’ released in 2016.
His work has put him as one of the most recognized Latinos within the music industry. His songs have achieved international success, not only listened to in his native Colombia or the United States. Manuel’s music has reached countries like Germany, Turkey, and Japan. He has collaborated with artists like Rauw Alejandro, Myke Towers, Maluma, Justin Quiles, Will.i.am and Wisin y Yandel. And this is only the beginning -- Manuel already knows who he wants to collaborate with next.
At the age of 21, Manuel is not only enjoying his fame, he is also reaping the benefits of his hard work, which has allowed him to achieve dreams that he’s long shared with his family, like owning a house in the hub of Miami. Manuel, his mother, Diana Marcela Zapata, and his brother, Julian Turizo, welcomed HOLA! USA to their home. In a friendly conversation, the singer spoke about his achievements, his future, and the long road towards achieving his dreams.
Manuel also confessed that he contracted COVID-19 in the middle of the pandemic, and talked a bit about his experience battling the disease. When discussing his personal life, he revealed whether or not he is jealous with his girlfriend, the influencer Joselina Sorza. He told us how many kids he’d like to have and if he’s planning on becoming a father anytime soon.
Photo: Gabo Bucheli | Makeup: María Laura Carrizo
Check out this sneak peak of the interview with Manuel Turizo!
I’m living my dream and I’m enjoying it. It’s not like I’m staying at home doing nothing. We all have our way of enjoying life and that’s why we work for. But I’m very conscious. I’m aware of what I want in my future and where I want to go. [Turizo]
What does it mean to you to have achieved your dream of owning a house like this one?
It may sound cliche because everyone says it, but I’m living my dream. I have the tools. At first, I had a dream, I was working for it and looking on as things happened, but I didn’t know. Now, I’m living in the center of the industry, which is great for my career.
When did you realize that things were working out for you?
From the first song. It sounds crazy, but thank God I was lucky enough that my first ever song went viral. First in my country, Colombia, then all over Latin America and that’s when my career took off.
How do you handle fame from such a young age? What keeps you grounded and allows you to take it all in?
Obviously, your environment is very important. I think that there are two types of people in this regard, the ones that think “I’m young, I have to live and take advantage of my youth.” There are others that think “I’m young, I have to take advantage of my youth because I know what I want when I’m older.” I’m the latter type of person. I’m living my dream and I’m enjoying it. It’s not like I’m staying at home doing nothing. We all have our way of enjoying life and that’s why we work for. But I’m very conscious. I’m aware of what I want in my future and where I want to go.
Have you ever felt that fame took you someplace you didn’t want to go? Who brings you back down to Earth?
Momentarily. Sometimes I have bad reactions with my family, my music team. There are certain people that I work with who I also have a personal relationship with. We have the freedom to talk things straight, tell each other when something is off.
Photo: Gabo Bucheli | Makeup: María Laura Carrizo
What does your career mean to you at this moment?
It’s everything. One of the questions I get asked the most is “What do you do to have success?” but I think the key for success is for your passion to be everything to you. I share this with every person who’s successful, no matter their job. I wake up thinking about music, it’s part of my conversations, my hobbies. In my free time, I like to study the business of music, to see and know what’s going on, who is coming out, what is the new sound everyone wants to hear. My entire day revolves around music.
Have you ever struggled with anxiety or depression? How do you stay mentally healthy?
From the little I know of people who struggle with anxiety or depression is that it’s a condition that goes beyond their control. Everyone experiences a moment of anxiety, stress, or sadness. Yes, I’ve experienced it but not to a degree that it contaminates what I do or why I do it. At the end of the day, what I’m doing is making me happy and I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. I feel blessed because of that. We all have problems but I can’t complain about mine. I’m aware that I’m very blessed and lucky when compared to others.
Photo: Gabo Bucheli | Makeup: María Laura Carrizo
Have you faced difficult situations?
Of course. My visa was canceled in 2018 due to a small issue that I was able to resolve. I was coming from Chile to work here in Miami and at that moment I said goodbye to my career in the US. That was two years ago. Let’s leave it there. I had a bad experience, I made some mistakes, as we all do.
Did you get COVID-19?
Yes, but I kept it a secret. The truth is that I got it and it was very mild, maybe because I’m young, I had chills for only one night. Everyone I know that got it, my family, they’re all okay. But I know a lot of people have had different experiences with the disease, that they’ve had a rough time.
Manuel, his mother, Diana Marcela Zapata, and his brother, Julian Turizo, welcomed HOLA! USA to their home. Photo: Gabo Bucheli | Makeup: María Laura Carrizo
Who do you want to work with next? Which artists are you keeping in your sights?
I want to work with Karol G, I still haven’t worked with my fellow Colombian. I haven’t worked with Daddy Yankee either or Bad Bunny, who’s obviously doing great work. I haven’t worked with Jayko. I want to work with Mora, who’s just coming out now and I like what he’s doing. There are so many! Alejandro Sanz, Shakira. I don’t know them. I know Karol but I don’t know the rest. But we’re working towards that so that tomorrow we’ll get a call from them like “Hey, we want to work with Manuel!”
Who would you like to work with in the English side of music?
I’d like to work with Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, Sean Kingston. Jason Derulo, who I know from the old days.
Would you sing in English or Spanish?
I think everyone is well aware of what they should do and you shouldn’t remove artists from their identity. Before, there was a belief that language would be a limiting factor when it comes to international success. But we’re living through different times, we’ve lost that taboo. Nowadays there are songs in Spanish that are as big as the ones in English. We’ve broken through over the past 10 years.
Do you see yourself acting or doing something else?
Yes, of course. I like fashion a lot. I like art in general. Not painting or drawing though, I’m terrible at that.
Photo: Gabo Bucheli | Makeup: María Laura Carrizo
Do you see yourself having a family or kids at some point?
Of course! Not right now because I’m too young. Just imagine, being 21, having a kid, and trying to have a career. It’s very difficult. I respect those who do it. I think raising kids involves a lot of time and right now I want to be busy with work all the time. If I have time for it, I’d like to have five kids. That’s my wish, but I have to start with one. If there are twins, two or three. Now with science, it’s easy to choose twins, what’s difficult is to raise five kids.
What is a piece of advice your parents gave you that you still hear in your head years later?
I think being bold enough to do things. They told me this a lot of times and it was that piece of advice that allowed me to break through my shell.
Photo: Gabo Bucheli | Makeup: María Laura Carrizo
Do you dress and style yourself or do you have an assistant?
I think being bold enough to do things. They told me this a lot of times and it was that piece of advice that allowed me to break through my shell.
Is your girlfriend jealous when you go away on tour, with all your fans? Are you jealous?
My girlfriend understands it. I think that everyone who loves another person is jealous. I’m very jealous! I love her and I’m very jealous of everything I love. Not only in terms of my relationship but with everything I appreciate in my life.
Photo: Gabo Bucheli | Makeup: María Laura Carrizo
When do you see yourself in a couple of years?
Obviously bigger, that’s the reason why I work hard every day. I see myself doing the same thing. I want the story of Manuel Turizo to be a musical story. I want people to talk about the musical legacy of Manuel, of having 40 years of career and musical success. I want people to be able to sit down to listen to an entire night of Manuel Turizo hits. I want to be able to say “anniversary of my career” and make a concert that lasts an entire night, that people sing along with.
